COLUMBIA -- State Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, picked up several endorsements Thursday from Tea Party leaders across the state in his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The 13 endorsements came from grassroots organizers and Tea Party leadership from Aiken, Anderson, Greenville, Kershaw, Laurens, Seneca, Spartanburg, and Sumter who gathered at the State House Thursday morning.

Thirty-three Tea Party and liberty groups from around the state were represented at the rally, according to a news release from Bright's campaign, which called the support a sign that his campaign is gaining momentum.

Bright is one of five Republicans running in June's GOP primary for U.S. Senate.